Adoration
"Members of the
Emmanuel Community commit themselves, as far as possible to a long period of
daily adoration (adoration of the Blessed Sacrament when possible)" (Statutes n° 15). It is in prayer
that our life has to be founded, because that is the first place of meeting
with God, and the vivifying source for our life.
It is the meeting of a personal God
who gives his life, and who fulfils the expectations of our heart, by his love
and his forgiveness. Through the Eucharist, one is invited to live the Paschal
Mystery (death and resurrection of Christ). Prayer in union with God,
Eucharistic adoration is first a prayer of Christ, and then of the Church.
Thus, the proximity with Jesus leads to intercession and prayer for all men.
Compassion
Adoration lived day
after day brings us to share the feelings of Christ himself towards all men :
such is the compassion for those "who are dying of hunger, materially and
spiritually"
(Statutes - Preamble, I). This is expressed very concretely in the conduct of
the members of the Community and through the various community activities, in a
call to live an authentic charity. In the poor man and the one who suffers,
Jesus offers himself to be loved (cf. Mt 25, 40). However it is not only a
question of easing poverty and material miseries.
Adoration leads the members of
Emmanuel to realize that the biggest misery, the deepest suffering, is not to
know God or to be separated from him by sin. It unites them in the compassion
of Jesus which found its ultimate expression on the Cross : "God so loved
the world and he gave his only Son so that the world is saved by him" (Jn
3, 16-17). The true compassion of Jesus is to save the people created by the
Father. To become a follower of Him whose name is Emmanuel, is to burn with the
desire to take part in his mission with Him so that all people are saved.
Evangelisation
Adoration and
Compassion thus lead to evangelisation, which is the ultimate “raison d'être”
of the Community. Evangelisation
is first and above all, participation in the announcement of the Gospel,
following Christ in the Church. It is addressed to every person of good will,
in the freedom of his conscience. This evangelisation, for the members of the Emmanuel,
comprises various aspects and is directed in a privileged way towards the
people who do not know God or who have moved away from Him :
1. Firstly it shows itself by
individual actions in the circles of acquaintances of each one: family,
friends, work... Each member of the Community is a missionary there where he
is.
2. It is expressed by the individual
commitment of the members, in the activities of the local or universal Church.
3. It comprises also in the
participation of the apostolic activities of the Community in answer to the new
situations in social, economic, political and cultural realities:
evangelisation of families, persons in the active life, young people, etc.
4. It is incarnated
finally in the missions entrusted explicitly by the Church to the Community.
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